The Gorgon's Head

A Wonder-Book for Girls and Boys is a children's book written by American author Nathaniel Hawthorne in which he rewrites myths from Greek mythology. It was followed by a sequel, Tanglewood Tales.

The Gorgon's Head is an 1850s retelling of part of the tale of Perseus of Greek mythology. The story starts off fast-forwarding through the early part of the legend of Perseus, briefly mentioning the infant demi-god Perseus and his mother Danae being cast adrift at sea locked inside a chest, quickly getting to the start of the involvement of King Polydectes. Polydectes fancied Danae, but he viewed the young and strong-willed adult Perseus as an obstacle that had to be eliminated. Polydectes schemes up a plan to rid himself of Persues, sending him on a quest to retrieve the head of the Gorgon Medusa as a wedding gift.